March 25, 2024 – Time can be a matter of life or death. That’s why CLT has partnered with MEDIC to install a new system that can help save lives.
Last year, MEDIC along with the Aviation Department’s Operations and IT staff provided the technology to activate MEDIC’s new system over Airport Wi-Fi.
“When MEDIC hooks up their EKG machine (cardiac monitor) to get all the vitals from the patient, it allows them to send that information directly to the hospital care team, who can then prepare for the patient using real-time vitals,” said Lexie Farmer, Airport Operations Director - Strategy & Emergency Services.
The system was activated in November 2023, and since then has helped with three medical emergencies in the Airport. In one instance, the time from the incident to when the patient was taken to the catheterization laboratory was only 62 minutes. Medical professionals already had the patient’s vital information from the MEDIC at the Airport.
“Out in the field they have the ambulances. Here, they’re on carts so they don’t have all the tools they have on the ambulance,” Farmer said. “That’s why it was crucial to get the Wi-Fi connection up for them.”
Other medical advances in the works are a project to install more Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the terminal and for the Aviation Department, which operates the Airport for the City of Charlotte, to earn a HeartSafe WorkPlace certification, which involves training 25% of staff on CPR and AED use.